Booth construction

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a booth for telephones and the like having a back panel, side panels and shelf panels, all of which are secured together through recessed fastening means to hide the method of construction. The recessed fastening means are so arranged that the side panels are first secured to the edges of the back panels, and then the shelf panels are fixed to the side panels. For this purpose, pockets opening into the bottom of the shelf panels are formed in the side edges of the shelf panels. Shoulder screws projecting from the side panels pass into the pockets through the bottom openings and engage slotted clips in the pockets. At least one clip in every shelf panel has a locking flange to lock the shelf panels in place when secured to the side panels.

[united States Patent Welch BOOTH CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Phillip Craig Welch, Grand Rapids, Mich. [73] Assignee: Modular Systems, Inc., F ruitport, Mich. [22] Filed: June 19, 1969 [21] Appl. No: 834,833

[52] US. Cl ..52/36, 108/152, 211/90 [51 I lnt. Cl. ..A47b 3/06, Fl6b 12/22 [58] Field ofSearch ..52/36, 275, 284,589, 593,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,427,012 9/1947 Lum ..211/90 X 3,110,934 11/1963 Triplett... ..52/36X 3,247,332 4/1966 McHugh ..52/36 X 3,300,917 l/1967 Bartley et a1 ..52/36 [4 1 Jan. 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, .l r. Attorney-Price, Heneveld, l-luizenga & Cooper [5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a booth for telephones and the like having a back panel, side panels and shelf panels, all of which are secured together through recessed fastening means to hide the method of construction. The recessed fastening means are so arranged that the side panels are first secured to the edges of the back panels, and then the shelf panels are fixed to the side panels. For this purpose, pockets opening into the bottom of the shelf panels are formed in the side edges of the shelf panels. Shoulder screws projecting from the side panels pass into the pockets through the bottom openings and engage slotted clips in the pockets. At least one clip in every shelf panel has a locking flange to lock the shelf panels in place when secured to the side panels.

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Q 70 2 ZZ 66 f j/jz INVENTOR PHILLIP CRAIG WELCH ATTORNEYS BOOTH CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a booth construction, especially adapted for telephone booths. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a booth construction in which side panels, a back panel, and shelf panels are quickly and easily secured together through recessed fastening means, and pockets formed in the edges of the shelf panels open into the bottom thereof to permit passage of shoulder screws in the side panels into the pockets while the side panels are securely fastened to the back panel.

In commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 669,155 filed Sept. 20, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,451,362, there is disclosed and claimed a booth construction wherein a back panel is fixed between two sidewall panels and at least one shelf is fixed to the sidewalls. The booth is of a knockdown construction and all panels are fastened together through flexible, recessed fastening means. In constructing this booth, the side panels are first fixed to the shelf panels. The side panels are then spread apart so as to permit insertion of the back panel between the sidewalls.

I have now discovered still another means of assembling like booths in which the shelf panels are securely locked in place but can be disassembled if desirable, and wherein the side panels are first secured to the back panel and then the shelf panels are secured to the side panels.

By various aspects of this invention one or more of the following, or other, objects can be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved booth construction for telephones and the like, which booth can be shipped in knockdown form and easily and quickly assembled without the use of tools.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved booth construction having strong assembly means which are substantially hidden from view to minimize the danger of accidental disassembly.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved knockdown booth construction which can be assem bled quickly and easily while being of ingenious construction to hide assembly fasteners between panels, but which booth can be disassembled easily by persons having specific knowledge of the assembly techniques.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an ingenious knockdown booth construction for telephones and the like wherein panels are quickly and easily assembled at point of use and locked to each other for durable use and to prevent vandalizing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a knockdown booth construction which lends itself to efficient mass production methods with semiskilled labor, can be shipped in knockdown form to minimize shipping costs, and which can be easily and quickly assembled at point of use.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a booth construction which lends itself to interlocking tandem booth construction during initial construction or subsequent to construction of a single booth.

Other aspects, objects, and the several advantages of this invention are apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of this disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a quickly and easily assembled booth construction for telephones and the like wherein said booth has a back panel, side panels joined to the side edges of the back panel, and shelf panelsjoined to the side panels. The side panels are joined to the back panel and to the shelf panels through recessed fastening means..Pockets are formed in the side edges of the shelf panels and clips are fixed in the pockets. Each of the clips has an open-ended slot for receiving the head ofa shoulder screw which is fixed in a side panel and which projects into the pocket and engages the slot of the clips to tightly secure the shelf panels to the side panels. One shoulder screw is fixed in the side panels for each pocket and clip. At least some of the pockets in the shelf have a bottom wall cutaway so as to form an opening on the bottom thereof to permit passage of the shoulder screws into the pockets after the side panels have been securely fastened to the back panel. In this manner, the booth can be constructed by first fixing each side panel to the back panel and then fixing the shelves between the sidewalls.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the clips in each of the shelf panels has a locking flange to retain a shoulder screw at the terminal end of the slot when the shoulder screw is engaged by the clip.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa booth according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the parts forming the booth illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the booth showing an initial stage in the assembly of the booth;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the encircled area A in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines VIVI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the booth shown in the completed assembly;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines VIIIVIII of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view seen along IXIX of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a telephone 12 which is supported within a booth comprising a back panel 14, sidewall panels 16 and 18, and shelf panels 20 and 22. The booth can be supported on a wall by a channel bracket 24 having slots 26 and 28 for affixing the channel bracket to the wall through suitable fastening means such as screws (not shown). As seen in FIG. 4, the channel bracket has a downwardly turned front edge 30 and an upwardly turned front edge 32 for retaining an attaching bracket 34 having tapped holes 36 for screws 38. The channel bracket 24 fits within a routed channel 40 in the back of the backwall panel 14. The attaching bracket 34 in turn tits and slides within the channel bracket 24. As the screws 38 are tightened, the back panel 14 is drawn tightly against the wall.

On each side edge of the backwall panel 14, an upper pocket 42 and a lower pocket 44 is routed out. Each lower pocket 44 has an opening or window 45 in the front of panel 14. The opening 45 is so positioned in the backwall panel 14 that it is hidden from view by shelf 20 when that shelf has been assembled into position between sidewall panels 16 and 18, and against backwall panel 14. Each pocket contains a slotted clip 54 for engaging shoulder screws 46 in the sidewall panels 16 and 18 (FIG. 5 and 6). One shoulder screw is fixed in a side panel for each pocket and clip combination. Each clip has an end portion 56 secured to the back panel 14 through a screw 57, and an end portion 58 secured to the back panel 14 through a screw 59, the end portions beingjoined by a raised central portion 60 having an open-ended slot 62. The slot forms wedging surfaces 64 on the inner portions thereof. The wedging surfaces 64 slope inwardly from the open end to the closed end of the slot.

The shoulder screws 46, which are threadably secured to the sidewall panels have a shoulder 48 and a head 50 separated by a shank 52. The shoulder screws are well known in the art and are described more completely in a commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 733,047, filed May 29, 1968 now Pat. No. 3,491,820.

The joint fastening system preferably used with this invention and shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 is more fully described and is claimed in said copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 733,047. Another suitable joint system for this invention has been disclosed and claimed in still another commonly assigned copending U.S. application, Ser. No. 669,155, filed Sept. 20, I967 now Pat. No. 3,451,362. Both of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The joint construction between the shelves 20 and 22 and the sidewalls I6 and 18 are of similar constructionsReference is now made to FIGS. 8 and 9 for a disclosure of one-joint construction between the sidewalls and the shelves. A pocket 68 is routed out in the side edge of each shelf panel to correspond with shoulder screws 46 in the side panels. One shoulder screw is provided in a side panel for each pocket 68 in the side edges of the shelf panels. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, two shoulder screws 46 have been placed in each sidewall panel for each shelf, making a total of four shoulder screws supporting each shelf. Thus, there are four pockets formed in each shelf.

The pocket 68 has a slotted clip 54 fixed therein. The clip is identical with the clip illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 except that a locking flange 66 is formed in the slotted clip 54. The locking flange 66 extends outwardly towards the edge of the shelf from end portion 56 beneath the open-ended slot 62 and terminates just short of the terminal position of the head 50 of shoulder screw 46. The locking flange permits the shoulder screw to be inserted in the slot, with the locking flange 66 being deflected inwardly as the shoulder screw slides into the end of the slots. Once in position, the shoulder screw cannot be removed from the slot due to the fact that head 50 will strike the terminal end of the locking flange 66. By depressing inwardly the locking flange 66 the shoulder screw 50 can be removed from the slot.

An opening slot 70 is formed in the bottom of the shelf to aid in assembling the shelves to the side panels 16 and 18 and to assist in removing the locking clips. Preferably, only one joint containing a locking clip as illustrated in FIG. 9 is positioned in each shelf. The other fastening means for the joints are preferably those illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In those pockets 68 containing the clips without the locking flange, the slot 70 need only be long enough to permit insertion of the head of the shoulder screw. Thus, the other slot 70 will be somewhat smaller than that illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The booth is assembled by first fixing the back panel 14 to a wall or other suitable supporting member preferably through the wall mounting bracket 24. The telephone is then preferably mounted directly to the wall on panel 14. The side panels 18 and 16 are then positioned so that the shoulder screws 46 are in the top portions of the pockets 42 and 44. The side panels 18 and 16 are then pulled downwardly to securely fasten the shoulder screws in the slotted clips 54. The shelf panels 20 and 22 are then dropped in place so that the shoulder screws pass through the slots 70 and into pockets 68. The shoulder screws 46 will be positioned in the rearmost portion of the slots 70. The shelf panels 20 and 22 are then sequentially pushed back against the back panel 14 so as to lock the shelves in place.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clips in both pockets contain locking flanges such as flange 66 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. These flanges then securely lock side panels 16 and 18 in place on backwall panel 14. If desirable, these side panels can be removed by inserting a screwdriver blade or similar tool through opening 45 to depress the locking flange and then forcing the side panel upwardly with respect to the backwall panel 14. If the booth needs to be disassembled, a screwdriver or similar tool can be inserted through slot 70, between the raised portion 60 and the locking flange 66, and then turned so as to deflect the locking flange 66. The shelf panel can then be pulled outwardly to disengage the shoulder screws from the clips.

Alternately, only the innermost pockets in the ends of the shelfpanels 20 and 22 need to be provided with opening slots 70. Since the clips 54 are of a flexible nature, the side panels I6 and t8 can be spread slightly to permit insertion of the outermost shoulder screws 46 into the pockets for engagement with the clips 54.

The booth construction according to the invention provides a construction in which the means ofassembling the booth are not readily visible to the untrained eye. The booth cannot be disassembled without knowledge of the operation of the locking clips illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. This is significant due to the widespread pilferage and vandalism to which telephone booths and the like are subject.

The booth can be assembled in place quickly and easily by a single person without the use of tools. By the construction design, each panel is assembled seratim to the wall in a simple one-step operation, thereby eliminating the necessity of lifting a heavy, preassembled structure. The construction is strong and does not lent itself to disassembly without specific knowledge of the nature of the locking clips. For example, the sidewalls cannot be pulled up after the assembly because of the locking flanges in pockets 44. In any event, the shelves 20 and 22 must be removed prior to removal of the sidewall panels 16 and 18. It should be pointed out also that the shelf 20 cannot be removed without first removing the shelf 22. This is so because the locking clip in the end of the shelf 20 cannot be unlocked without first removing the bottom shelf. The distance between the shelves does not permit a screwdriver to be inserted into the open slot 70 without first removing the bottom shelf 22.

The booth construction of the invention is a knockdown construction which lends itself to less expensive mass production techniques where parts are produced faster with semiskilled labor as opposed to the conventional skilled labor and extensive hand operations. In other words, each kind of panel is produced in identically the same manner, and these panels are interchangeable. Thus, there is no problem of fitting between the panels. The mass production techniques are less expensive than the conventional woodworking techniques.

Further, the knockdown construction is less expensive for shipping. The disassembled panels can be laid flat adjacent each other without bulky air space.

By the ingenious construction, strong joints are provided between the panels and the fastening means are hidden to prevent vandalizing disassembly. Further, the panels can only be constructed by one who is knowledgeable with the construction method.

The locking assembly of the panels minimizes vandalizing disassembly and also provides a more durable construction for use of the booth.

Plural booths can be arranged in tandem in an interlocking relationship using a common side panel. This tandem arrangement can be accomplished during the initial installation procedure or subsequent thereto should a tandem arrangement prove desireable after the installation of a single booth. The common side panel will have shoulder screws projecting from either side thereof in identical relationship with respect to the sidewall. After the backwall panels for the adjacent booths have been secured to the wall (or to another suitable support) the common side panel is placed between the edges which are then forced against the common side panel with the shoulder screws in pockets 42 and 44. The common side panel is then pulled downwardly to secure the common sidewall panel to thejuxtaposed backwall panels. The remainder of the booths can then be constructed in identical manner as described above.

In adding another booth in tandem with an assembled booth, it is necessary to disassemble the constructed booth by removing the shelves and one sidewall panel. The side panel of the constructed booth is then replaced by a common side panel having screws on both faces and construction of the tandem booths is completed as described above.

Whereas the invention has been described with respect to a booth mounted on a wall, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a booth assembly such as described mounted on a supporting base in freestanding relationship on the floor.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A quickly and easily assembled booth construction for telephone and the like where said booth has a back panel, side panels joined to the side edges of said back panel, and shelf panelsjoined to said side panels, said shelf panels having a top and bottom wall;

recessed fastening means joining said side panels to said back panel;

recessed fastening means joining said shelf panels to said side panels, said last-mentioned fastening means comprising recessed pockets fon'ned in said side edges of said shelf panels between said top and bottom wall; clips fixed in said pockets, each of said clips having an open-ended slot for receiving the head of a shoulder screw; and shoulder screws fixed in said side panels projecting into said pockets and engageable with said slots of said clips to tightly secure said shelf panels to the said side panels as said shelves are moved rearwardly relative to said side panels;

at least some of said pockets having an aperture through said bottom wall communicating with said recessed pockets so as to form an opening on the bottom of said shelf panels into said recessed pockets to permit passage of said shoulder screws on said sidewalls into and out of said pockets after said side panels have been securely fastened to said back panel, whereby said booth can be constructed by first fixing each side panel to said back panel, and then fixing said shelf between said side panels.

2. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said clips in each of said shelf panels has a locking flange to retain said shoulder screw at the terminal end of said slot when said shoulder screw is engaged by said clip.

3. A booth construction according to claim 2 wherein said opening in said pocket containing said clip with said locking flange is elongated so as to permit insertion of an implement to unlock said flange to permit disassembly of said booth.

4. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein said recessed fastening means between said back panel and said side panel comprises:

recessed pockets formed in the side edges of said back panel;

clips fixed in said recessed pockets, each of said clips having an open-ended slot for receiving a shoulder screw;

shoulder screws fixed in said side panels in opposing relationship to said clips in said back panel pockets and engageable with said clips such that each of said side panels can be fixed to the back panel by positioning said shoulder screws in said back panel pockets adjacent said open ends of said clip slots so as to engage said clips, and moving said side panels relative to said back panel to cause corresponding movement of said shoulder screws into the terminal end of said clip slots.

5. A booth construction according to claim 4 wherein said open end of each of said clips in said side edges of said back panel faces upwardly so that said side panels are pulled downwardly relative to said back panel to secure said side panels to said back panel.

6. A booth construction according to claim 4 wherein one clip at each side edge ofsaid back panel has a locking flange to retain said shoulder screw at the terminal end of said clip slot so that said sidewalls are locked in place on said back panel.

7. A booth construction according to claim 6 further comprising openings in the front face of said back panel from said recessed pockets containing clips with said locking flanges whereby said locking flanges can be depressed from locking engagement with said shoulder screws to permit removal of said side panels by inserting a tool into said recessed pockets through said openings.

8. A booth construction according to claim 7 wherein said openings are positioned behind the back edges of a shelf panel when said shelf panels are assembled between said side panels.

9. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein said back panel has a recessed lateral channel in the back side thereof; an attaching bracket is fixed within said channel to said back panel; means are provided for fixing said bracket to a wall such that said back panel is mounted flush with said wall, and said side panels cover the ends of said channel. 

1. A quickly and easily assembled booth construction for telephone and the like where said booth has a back panel, side panels joined to the side edges of said back panel, and shelf panels joined to said side panels, said shelf panels having a top and bottom wall; recessed fastening means joining said side panels to said back panel; recessed fastening means joining said shelf panels to said side panels, said last-mentioned fastening means comprising recessed pockets formed in said side edges of said shelf panels between said top and bottom wall; clips fixed in said pockets, each of said clips having an open-ended slot for receiving the head of a shoulder screw; and shoulder screws fixed in said side panels projecting into said pockets and engageable with said slots of said clips to tightly secure said shelf panels to the said side panels as said shelves are moved rearwardly relative to said side panels; at least some of said pockets having an aperture through said bottom wall communicating with said recessed pockets so as to form an opening on the bottom of said shelf panels into said recessed pockets to permit passage of said shoulder screws on said sidewalls into and out of said pockets after said side panels have been securely fastened to said back panel, whereby said booth can be constructed by first fixing each side panel to said back panel, and then fixing said shelf between said side panels.
 2. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said clips in each of said shelf panels has a locking flange to retain said shoulder screw at the terminal end of said slot when said shoulder screw is engaged by said clip.
 3. A booth construction according to claim 2 wherein said opening in said pocket containing said clip with said locking flange is elongated so as to permit insertion of an implement to unlock said flange to permit disassembly of said booth.
 4. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein said recessed fastening means between said back panel and said side panel comprises: recessed pockets formed in tHe side edges of said back panel; clips fixed in said recessed pockets, each of said clips having an open-ended slot for receiving a shoulder screw; shoulder screws fixed in said side panels in opposing relationship to said clips in said back panel pockets and engageable with said clips such that each of said side panels can be fixed to the back panel by positioning said shoulder screws in said back panel pockets adjacent said open ends of said clip slots so as to engage said clips, and moving said side panels relative to said back panel to cause corresponding movement of said shoulder screws into the terminal end of said clip slots.
 5. A booth construction according to claim 4 wherein said open end of each of said clips in said side edges of said back panel faces upwardly so that said side panels are pulled downwardly relative to said back panel to secure said side panels to said back panel.
 6. A booth construction according to claim 4 wherein one clip at each side edge of said back panel has a locking flange to retain said shoulder screw at the terminal end of said clip slot so that said sidewalls are locked in place on said back panel.
 7. A booth construction according to claim 6 further comprising openings in the front face of said back panel from said recessed pockets containing clips with said locking flanges whereby said locking flanges can be depressed from locking engagement with said shoulder screws to permit removal of said side panels by inserting a tool into said recessed pockets through said openings.
 8. A booth construction according to claim 7 wherein said openings are positioned behind the back edges of a shelf panel when said shelf panels are assembled between said side panels.
 9. A booth construction according to claim 1 wherein said back panel has a recessed lateral channel in the back side thereof; an attaching bracket is fixed within said channel to said back panel; means are provided for fixing said bracket to a wall such that said back panel is mounted flush with said wall, and said side panels cover the ends of said channel. 